Massage apparatus



ocr, 13,1925.

- 557,417 c. W. CHENEY MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1923 z Sheets-sheet 1 Oct.13, 1925 1,557,417 C. W. CHENEY MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

CHAR-Las w. CHENEY, or BosTQN, MAssAcHUsiims.

MAssAGE APRA-Raros.

i Application filed June 1.5,"i1928. :LSeI-.ia'l No. 645,564.

To all 107mm t may concern:

Be 1t known that I, CHARLES IV. CHENEY,

.a citizen ofthe United States of America,

and resident of Boston, inthe county of -Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and l useful Improvements 'in Massage Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a `massa-ge appliance the general :type illustrated in U. S. Paten-t No. 1,339,299; an object of fthe present invention being the provisionof a construction which will facilitate electrotherapeutic massage treatments and `minimize the energy expended in giving the .proper treatment.

Certain embodiments of the appliance are shown in the accompanyingy drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of the massage appliance; n

Fig. `2 ;a,.plan 'view with parts removed as yon the line 2-;2 4.of Fig. 1';

Fig. 3 is a bot-tom vplan view;

Fig. el is a section on the line 'el-4 of Fig. l; M

Fig. is a fragmentary section Aon the line of Fig. 3.; y

Fig. 6 isa partial end elevation;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.; i

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan ofv a modi-lied form of massage members; and c Fig. 9 is a section on Athe Aline` 9 Fig. 8.

In the particular embodiment here illus-` trated the appliance is shown as including a frame or casing A having controlling handles B and C and a rotor shaft D carrying the massage head E.

The massage head is provided with suitable massaging members for mechanical kneading or massage of the flesh of a patient, these members being of any desired form or shape, characteristic forms such as the balls particularly illustrated in Fig. 5 and the frustro-conical rollers of Figs. 8 and 9 being shown. The operation of the rotor D serves to impart a spinning movement to the head E carrying the massaging members about in a circular path over the patient While the position of the device as an en tirety is controlled by the handles B and C so that its effect may be localized or ex tended over a considerable area. Suitable electrical connections are provided between lthe massaging members zand a source .of lelectrical energy so that the flesh engaging and. .kneading par-ts Will carry an .electrical current tothe portion of the body of 'the patient e-nga-ged thereby, the current being .grounded through theypatient who the-refore receives the combinedbeneiits 4of siinul ita-neous` massage and electro-therapeutic treatment. f

Con-trol means are preferably provided for-the fioiv lof therapeutic current and `also for the rotor current (not shown) so that .the massaging `device may fbe `employed Without` electrical connection yor the electri cal current rmay be supplied to the massaging members `duri-ng manual manipulation there of Without actuation of the rotor. i

In the specific embodiments illustrated, the Vhandle C has extending ,through it a suitably driven flexible shaftpmeinber l() for operating the Worm shaft l1 Which is 'jonrinaled `in casing A. yWorm l2 on shaft ll, by .engagementwith pinion .13, drives. vthe rotor Vshaft, D which projects from .the easing A. This rotor shaft has -a socket li receiving ythe non-conducting bushing l5 .and `cap 1G which `-together with washer 17, serve to insulate .the tip 18 :from the rotor shaft D. This tip has a socket 19 detachably receiving thethreaded .stndf20 of the base plate 21 forming a part of the imassagc Base plate 21 ,has secured thereto discsk 22 having .annular flanged portions 23 intermediately located on the faces of the ldiscs and forming interior races for the anti-friction balls 24. Sleeves 25 have a driven lit With the exterior of the flanges and their inturned edge portions 26 serve to retain the massage members 27 seated against the thrust bearings 24 for free rot-ation.

An alternative construction of massage head is shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and comprises a base plate 28 having the attaching stud 29 and spaced annular flanges 3() and 3l connected by angularly disposed pintles 32. In this form frustro-conical rollers 38 carried by the pintles provide the flesh engaging massage members, their frustro-conical form allowing the rollers to move freely over the flesh on rotation of the head Without any pulling or twisting action.

In the use of the invention the shaft l() suitably actuated, spinning the rotor and massaging head which is moved over thel body of the patient by handles B and C.

The massaging members 27 orv 33 thus spin in a. small area Whose location is varied as desired by shifting the device as an entirety.

To permit electro-therapeutic treatment during` the massage a contact brush 34 rides against the member 18, this brush being supported in the non-conducting socket l35 of brush arm 36 which depends from casing A adjacent rotor shaft D. A connecting wire 37 extends through arm 36 fromvcasing 34 of spring-pressed brush 34 to one terminal ot 'switch member` 38.' The other terminal 39 has a Wire leading toa suitable source of electrical energy, the terminals bein'gfople 'atively connected as by the switch arm 40.

Vhen the switch is closed current rWill How from the source of electrical'jenergy through Wire 37, brush 34 and part 1S to the massaging head. The head and massaging members are of conducting material, and the current for the electro-therapeutic portion ot the treatment Will iovv through said members to the exact portion of the body which is the subject of thetreatment at that particular moment.

I claim:

l. A device for use in electroftherapeutic massage treatments comprising a lframe, a rotary head carried by the frame, means insulating lthe head from the frame, and means on the trame in nonconducting relation thereto for supplying an electric current to the head.

2. A device for use in'electro-therapeutic massage treatments comprising a frame, a rotary head carried by the frame, means insulating the head from the frame, means on the frame in non-conducting 'rela-tion thereto `for supplying an electric current tothe head, and additional means carried by the frame for rot-ating the head. y

3. A massage appliance comprising a trame, a rotor in the frame, means for actuatingthe rotor, an insulated massage head carried by the rotor, said head having massaging members of electrically conductive material, and a brush arm carried by the 4iframe having a brush in operative relation `on the frame engaging` the head for supplying electric current to themassage mem` bers by Way of the head.

5. A device of the character described including a frame, a rotor liournaled in the frame having a terminal portion insulated from the frame and body of the rotor, means for actuating the rotor, a brush arm carried by the frame and extending adjacentthe rotor, a conductor `Within the brush arm, and a contact brush in circuit with the conductor, `said brush engaging the insulated terminal portion of the rotor.

6. A device of the character described including a frame, a rotor journaled in the frame .having a terminal portion insulated from the frame and body of the rotor, means for actuating therotor, a brush arm carried by the frame and extending adjacent the rotor, a conductor within the brush arm, a Contact brush in circuit with the conductor, said brush engaging the insulated terminal portion of the rotor, and a massage head carried by said terminal portion of the rotor, said head having flesh massaging members electrically connected With the energized terminal of the rotor.

Signed by me at Boston, Mass., this 12th day of June, 1923.y Y f CHARLES W. CHENEY. 

